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Why people post on social media?
Social media is a computer-based technology that allows people to share ideas, thoughts and knowledge via virtual communities and networks. Social media, by design, is Internet-based. It allows people to quickly communicate content electronically. Personal information, documents and photos are all included in the content. Social media can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or computer via web-based software and social media apps.
Social media content is literally taking over the internet. Twitter’s audience increased 29% year-overyear to an astonishing 187 million users. They send out more than 500 million tweets each day. YouTube users upload approximately 400 hours of content per minute. Facebook boasts nearly 20 million monthly active users, who spend almost twenty hours per month on it. Social media has already begun to transform society and the internet in a very short time. Are you wondering why people post on social media their thoughts? Below are the top reasons.
Curating a Personal Brand
Companies spend millions of dollars each year curating their brand image and spreading it to as many people as they can, in order to be perceived positively.
People are now doing the same with their “personal brand” thanks to social media.
We all care about how others perceive us, for better or worse. Thanks to social networking websites like Instagram and Facebook, we can now try to improve our perceptions for free.
Why is it that most people don’t want to post negative aspects of their lives or selfies where they aren’t looking their best? It can harm their personal brand. We all want to be seen as best we can, just like businesses.
To Convey our Identity
Our sense of identity is perhaps the most powerful motivator behind our desire to share. The wanted version we wish to project onto the rest of the world is what drives our motivation to share.
The New York Times conducted a study on social media sharing. 68% of respondents stated that they share to help people feel more connected to their lives and the things they care about. Carl Rogers, a psychologist, offered a possible explanation. Rogers argues that we are made up of two parts: our “real self” (who actually is) and our “ideal self”(who we would like to become).
Rogers says that we are constantly motivated to live a life that is closer to our ideal self. The content that we share can be seen as a reflection on the person we wish the world to see. We might, for example, endorse a political candidate to express our views. We might share a humorous video to show our humor or a music video that expresses our musical tastes.
To Nurture Relations
We are social creatures by nature, so we naturally develop and maintain social relationships. Another reason we share online is our desire to enrich and maintain these relationships. Social media is a convenient and easy way to keep in touch with friends, despite our hectic lives and limited time.
We often stumble upon content that we believe will be of benefit to a friend and so we share it online. We also like to share content that is relevant to a particular relationship. We share content that relates to a relationship, such as content that captures a common interest, an experience shared, or an idea for future plans. On average, Facebook users share one social post per day. This is a lot of content for a site with 2.8 billion monthly active users.
They Want to Be Heard
Humans are naturally tribal creatures and want to be accepted by their community. We want to feel that our opinions matter.
This is why Facebook and other social media platforms allow people to share their opinions. Positive feedback, such as comments and likes, is often what we need to confirm that our opinions are valid.
It’s not always that simple. Sometimes it is simply because we feel self-important and have an opinion that everyone needs.
Feel a sense of belonging
Social media is also becoming a key tool for understanding the world around you. According to the Thrive Initiative teens say that social media has a direct effect on how they interact and communicate with the world. Thrive says that teens see social media as a way to connect and maintain relationships, be creative, and learn more about other cultures and people. Sharing content online opens up a wider world than the one we currently live in.
Positive feedback is often received from peers when we share content online. We all agree that it makes us happier when something we share gets 100 “likes” rather than none. Engaging in online communities and getting feedback can give us social validation and help us feel more connected.
Information Management
Because there is so much information in our lives and so many people to share that content, many users believe sharing is a good way to manage it. According to the New York Times survey, “85 percent” of respondents said that reading others’ answers helps them understand and digest information and events. 73% of respondents share information and say that they think more deeply, thoughtfully, and thoroughly when they do.
They Want a Self-Esteem Boost
If someone posts a photo of their great accomplishment online or news about it, they usually do so to get praise from others.
They desire the self-esteem boost that comes from men admiring their photos or distant friends congratulating their achievements.
Below, we’ll discuss the relationship between self-esteem and social media.
They Want to Market Them Self
Uploading flattering content on social media is not only a way to boost your self-esteem, but it also serves a practical purpose.
LinkedIn allows business owners to see the extraordinary achievements of men and reach out to them to offer their services. A business owner might contact a woman to fly them to his Dubai mansion if he sees her amazing Instagram photo. Both of these scenarios seem to be very common.
Your social media profile can be your online business card, and it can open up new opportunities.
